Harmonise ASR/MSL/Timer window colours to match VSL/wake/approach sequencer

[cbyworth]

Over time we ended up with a somewhat varied colour scheme amongst UKCP windows. I would sleep easier if the colour scheme were harmonised.
Change the ASR/MSL/Timer windows from green to the purple/grey scheme used in the VSL etc.
ASR/MSL headers purple with the lists below the darker grey of the VSL.
Additionally, change the Departure Coordination Requests window background from transparent to the same dark grey.

All these should ideally look similar:

[PLM1995]

Possibly relates to #536

[19wintersp]

The VSL windows I understand to be based on a real-world system (whether still in use I'm unsure), so they would probably have to be the reference for any alignments in design, which would apply also to the other purple windows (their design is quite different too in iconography and styling of the header). Any redesign of the timer windows would probably best be combined with #189, #206, and #270 to avoid having to redesign twice to integrate more timers. As for customisability of the theme, I should presume there'd be no objection to maintaining the current style as default, and allowing changing of the accent colour from purple to the ES green or a grey, for example?

As an aside, is there any chance of getting that Discord channel to discuss any potential design revisions? I think it'd probably be easier to give feedback etc. there instead of on GitHub

[cbyworth]

The VSL windows I understand to be based on a real-world system (whether still in use I'm unsure), so they would probably have to be the reference for any alignments in design, which would apply also to the other purple windows (their design is quite different too in iconography and styling of the header). Any redesign of the timer windows would probably best be combined with #189, #206, and #270 to avoid having to redesign twice to integrate more timers. As for customisability of the theme, I should presume there'd be no objection to maintaining the current style as default, and allowing changing of the accent colour from purple to the ES green or a grey, for example?

As an aside, is there any chance of getting that Discord channel to discuss any potential design revisions? I think it'd probably be easier to give feedback etc. there instead of on GitHub

Correct, it is an emulation of the VSL that exists in NATS NODE-L controller suite used in TC/TC Approach.

Our purple/grey isn't actually correct because NODE-L uses black backgrounds and a shade of salmon for window headers (except for the MSL window which uses a shade of blue for the header - see the bottom of this display):

And in use with VSLs displayed here:

And a detail image of the VLS from here: https://skybrary.aero/sites/default/files/bookshelf/970.pdf

I think some aspect of customisability would be nice because whilst the black/salmon with green/amber combo would look good in our TC profiles, it would look a bit out of place in other profiles. Personally, ideally we could simply pick 4 colours (like we can for radar trails) for:

• List backgrounds (the black bits in the NODE-L VSL)
• List headers (the salmon in the NODE-L VSL)
• Aircraft callsign / actual flight level (the green in the NODE-L VSL)
• Aircraft cleared flight level (the gold in the NODE-L VSL)

These would then apply across all UKCP windows. I think we can probably stick with white for all other text?

Alternatively we could define three profiles as you've said Patrick (default ES green?/grey?/corrected NODE-L?).

[cbyworth]

NODE-L elements should align with whatever is outcome of:
VATSIM-UK/uk-controller-pack#1104

[spacenano]

I love this!!!

[spacenano]

For the grey you could use NOVA as a reference. Ideally matching the existing TopSky_NOVA settings colours so everything matches?

[spacenano]

https://youtu.be/IaguHZiPDvo?list=PLSXY9RuNFEjrY8JsnosnwL1aM7moxNqQF&t=4877 We also had the old colours more or less correct so not sure why it was changed to this weird purple/grey?

[19wintersp]

Interesting, I didn't realise it had been changed at some point; seems that happened in #149 (specifically 6115b3e), changing #ff9999 to #c581d6, and was later updated to the current colour in #404 for accessibility reasons.

[cbyworth]

For the grey you could use NOVA as a reference. Ideally matching the existing TopSky_NOVA settings colours so everything matches?

You might not have seen if you're not in the UKCPinternal Discord channel - NERC themed grey alongside existing NODE and the revised NODE scheme proposed in the pack Git:

UKCP DESIGNS.pdf

We could do NOVA too in theory - I'm assuming this will be implemented as a selectable theme:

• Default (we should probably keep given that it looks like it was changed for accessibility reasons)
• NODE
• NERC
• NOVA

[spacenano]

Ah didn't know that channel existed. Looks good, I think the NERC colour scheme of the plugin against the NOVA colour scheme of TopSky just makes it look a bit off as the TopSky NOVA colour scheme has blue title bars with a lighter shade of grey.

Understandably this will require even more work but will there be a colour scheme for iTEC as well?

[cbyworth]

Ah didn't know that channel existed. Looks good, I think the NERC colour scheme of the plugin against the NOVA colour scheme of TopSky just makes it look a bit off as the TopSky NOVA colour scheme has blue title bars with a lighter shade of grey.

Understandably this will require even more work but will there be a colour scheme for iTEC as well?

I can easily make schemes (in powerpoint...):
NODE-NERC-NOVA-iTEC.pdf

I think Will was going to pick this up once we'd concluded discussions around what colours to go with.

So essentially:

1. For NODE: Are we going to go with the updated TDB green, CFL gold and header salmon proposed here: Better NODE-L colours? uk-controller-pack#1104 ?
2. Are we happy with the "highlight" colours proposed for NERC/NOVA/iTEC?

[19wintersp]

I've noticed the TopSky windows (and the ES built-in lists) have thinner titlebars and use a smaller font size, is this something we should aim to be consistent with? The reference images too—with the exception of the detailed screenshot, which also has a coloured close button instead of the black square seen in the photos—seem to be somewhat more compact than the current designs, with less vertical padding in the titlebar.

[spacenano]

Ah didn't know that channel existed. Looks good, I think the NERC colour scheme of the plugin against the NOVA colour scheme of TopSky just makes it look a bit off as the TopSky NOVA colour scheme has blue title bars with a lighter shade of grey.
Understandably this will require even more work but will there be a colour scheme for iTEC as well?

I can easily make schemes (in powerpoint...): NODE-NERC-NOVA-iTEC.pdf

I think Will was going to pick this up once we'd concluded discussions around what colours to go with.

So essentially:

1. For NODE: Are we going to go with the updated TDB green, CFL gold and header salmon proposed here: Better NODE-L colours? uk-controller-pack#1104 ?
2. Are we happy with the "highlight" colours proposed for NERC/NOVA/iTEC?

All colours are fine apart from the salmon colour for me, it'd be easier to read the white text if it's made a bit darker.

[Hinshee]

I agree with Sam here. The salmon is too light. Perhaps something more like (#a06f70)

Very subtle change. Excuse the crude colour overlay in photoshop 😭
As for how this is implemented, I have a rough idea brewing as to how the plugin knows which colour palette to use.